Request for Proposal: Interoperability Partner, Data.FI

Request for Proposal: Interoperability Partner, Data.FI

Project: Data for Implementation (Data.FI)

The Company: Palladium International, LLC

Country of Performance: Burundi, Ethiopia, and Niger

RFP Closing Date and Time: October 17, 2025 at 5 PM EST

Contact Person: Betel Hailemariam, Program Manager, Data.FI Burundi, Cote d'Ivoire,
Ethiopia & Niger

Details for Submission: Submissions should be emailed to betel.hailemariam@thepalladiumgroup.com

As implementer for
the Project, Palladium invites you to submit a proposal for the terms of reference below. Your proposal must
be valid for the Validity Period (90 days).

Please submit
your proposal in accordance with the Details for Submission above by the
Closing Date and Time. This RFP in no way obligates Palladium to award a
contract nor does it commit Palladium to pay any cost incurred in the
preparation and submission of a proposal. Palladium bears no responsibility for
data errors resulting from transmission or conversion processes. Please review further RFP Terms and Conditions here.

Schedule - Terms of Reference

Purpose

The Purpose of the Request for Proposal (RFP) is to procure interoperability platform services to support Data.FI activities in multiple countries, including Burundi, Niger, and Ethiopia. The selected vendor will provide technical advisory, platform hosting, workflow development, and capacity building to advance health data integration, interoperability, and sustainable digital health system management.

Type of Contract

Firm Fixed Price Contract

Anticipated Contract Term

The anticipated start date would be immediately after contract signature.

Company Information

Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact - the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with corporations, governments, foundations, investors, communities and civil society to formulate strategies and implement solutions that generate lasting social, environmental and financial benefits.

Project

The overall goal of the Data.FI project is to improve global, regional, and national in-depth analyses of HIV epidemiologic and program data that can be directly applied to expedite the achievement of PEPFAR targets to attain and sustain control of the HIV epidemic. The focus also includes directly supporting host country governments and implementing partners to further enhance existing health information system platforms to inform management responses to well-defined gaps in HIV/AIDS programming. In order to ensure rapid access to high quality data, Data.FI works towards: accelerating data utilization to rapidly course correct and take to scale cost-effective and impactful activities, models and approaches required to attain and maintain HIV epidemic control; scaling and optimizing in-country health information system capabilities to collect, exchange, adapt, govern, and visualize information in order to track the attainment and maintenance of HIV epidemic control; and supporting the transition of prime funding and implementation to capable local partners.

Timeline

Submissions are due October 17, 2025, at 5 PM EST. Questions regarding this RFQ can be sent to the above listed email address by October 10, 2025, at 5 PM EST. Responses to questions will be sent to all bidders 24 hours after the deadline for questions has passed. Kindly adhere to the closing date and time and provide detailed information about the services proposed.

Instructions to the Offerors

Offerors who wish to respond to this Request for Proposal (RFP) must meet the following minimum qualification criteria and provide corresponding supporting documents:

* Must be a registered legal entity in one of the following countries: Burundi, Niger, and Ethiopia and provide certificate or articles and memorandum of association;

* Must not have any active exclusions in www.sam.gov, UN, or other international compliance databases;

* Must complete the Due Diligence Form

* Must read and sign the Project's Business Partner Code of Conduct

* Signed certifications: Terrorism, Anti-Kick Back, Debarment, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; and

* Past Performance of Trade References

Scope of Work and Standards

Data.FI is implementing digital health and data integration initiatives to strengthen HIV, TB, malaria, and broader health information systems. The project requires a robust interoperability platform and expert support to:

* Enable integration between national health information systems (e.g., EMRs, DHIS2, LMIS, laboratory systems).

* Support demonstration, pilot, and scale-up of integrated workflows.

* Build local capacity for sustainable management and expansion of interoperability solutions.

All activities under this engagement will be co-designed and co-developed in close collaboration with Data.FI and the respective country government technical teams, ensuring alignment with national priorities, building local capacity, and fostering long-term interoperability success.

The selected offeror will be responsible for providing comprehensive technical advisory services, platform hosting and management, workflow development, and capacity building to advance health data integration, interoperability, and the sustainable management of digital health systems. Specifically, the scope of work will include:

* Technical Advisory & Solution Design: Provide expert guidance on interoperability architecture, standards, and integration strategies - including requirements gathering and solution design, documentation of the interoperability use cases, and prioritization for implementation - in close collaboration with Data.FI and country government technical teams.

* Platform Hosting & Management: Set up, configure, and manage secure interoperability platforms, ensuring reliable operations and technical support for deployments and events.

* Workflow Development & Implementation: Co-design, develop, implement, and document priority interoperability workflows in collaboration with local teams, supporting pilots and ongoing troubleshooting.

* Capacity Building & Training: Deliver technical training and capacity building for local teams and government staff, including the creation of user guides and SOPs.

* Ongoing Support & Enhancement: Offer continuous technical support, platform enhancements, and helpdesk system support as local teams assume greater responsibility.

To ensure effective implementation and sustainability of digital health system integration and interoperability, the selected offeror will be responsible for delivering a set of technical, operational, and capacity-building outputs. These deliverables will support the design, deployment, management, and long-term enhancement of interoperability platforms in collaboration with Data.FI and government counterparts. The deliverables include:

* Technical advisory reports and solution design documents.

* Configured and managed interoperability platform environments.

* Documented and implemented interoperability workflows.

* Training materials and session reports.

* Ongoing support logs and enhancement documentation.

* System documentation repositories for sustainability and onboarding.

Evaluation and Award Process

All proposals received will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria outlined below to ensure a transparent, fair, and competitive selection process. The evaluation will consider both the technical merits of the proposal and the cost-effectiveness of the proposed solution. Technical capabilities will be assessed based on the offeror's demonstrated experience, proposed approach, and capacity to deliver high-quality interoperability services in alignment with the Statement of Work. Cost proposals will be evaluated for competitiveness, realism, and value for money. The award will be made to the offeror whose proposal represents the best overall value to Palladium and the Data.FI project.

Palladium reserves the right to award under this solicitation without further negotiations. The offerors are encouraged to offer their best terms and prices with the original submission.

PROCUREMENT INTEGRITY AND ETHICS

It is Palladium's Policy that no gifts of any kind and of any value be exchanged between vendors/contractors and Palladium personnel. Discovery of the same will be grounds for disqualification of the vendor/contractor from participation in any Palladium's procurements and may result in disciplinary actions against Palladium personnel involved in such discovered transactions.

Attachments

Please review the additional documentation and proposed contracts terms and conditions which should be given consideration when preparing your proposal. By submitting your bid you will certify that that you are in agreement with the contract terms and conditions as included in this solicitation and that all prices include all aspects of the required compliance with the terms and conditions of the proposed contract.

- Past Performance Formats

- Budget or price list submission format associated with each deliverable

- Due Diligence Form

- Business Partner Code of Conduct

- Copy of the Contract - blank with all the conditions including flowdowns

Any contract/purchase order resulting from this solicitation must be signed by both parties in order to be considered valid and in force. All costs associated with, but not limited to, production, preparation and/or delivery of goods or services, including deliveries, accepted by Palladium staff, without a fully executed (signed by both parties) contract/purchase order, are at the vendor's risk only. Palladium shall not pay for any costs, without limitation, associated with production, preparation or delivery of goods and/or services under this or any other contract/purchase order, which has not been signed by both parties.

If your proposal is successful, you will be required to enter into the Company's standard contract for the types of goods or services being provided. In the provision of the Goods and Services, you will be required to comply with the Company's policies, including (without limitation) its Business Partner Code of Conduct and any relevant client terms and conditions. Potential suppliers must also comply with the Company's Business Partner Code of Conduct in the submission of any proposals pursuant to this RFP.

If you are bidding as part of a joint venture, partnership or similar, please make this clear in your submission. Likewise, if you propose to subcontract any part of the goods or services provision, then disclose this fact within your submission. The Company may require additional information from you and approval for subcontracting will not be automatic as subcontractors will be subject to Palladium's Due Diligence process and may be required to submit for USAID Partner Vetting.